1 Samuel 3:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

NIV: At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end.

NASB: On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I have spoken in regard to his house, from beginning to end.

CSB: On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I said about his family, from beginning to end.

NLT: I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end.

KJV: In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

NKJV: In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

The Lord is revealing a prophecy to Samuel in the middle of the night. This is the first time the Lord has ever revealed Himself in a personal way to Samuel, who is still just a "boy" (1 Samuel 3:1, 7).

To make it even heavier, this is no easy prophecy. For one thing, the Lord has said that the news of what He is about to describe to Samuel will "make the [ears] of everyone who hears it" ring as if they've been struck (1 Samuel 3:11). In other words, this is a national prophecy with enormous consequences. Second, it's bad news about Samuel's mentor and guardian: Eli, the priest of Israel.

The Lord tells Samuel that on the day He does this thing, He will do everything He has spoken against Eli and his house, meaning his descendants. The Lord will bring it all to pass from start to finish. This will not be a partial fulfillment. God will leave none of the judgment undone. It's unknown whether Samuel or anyone else knew anything about the prior revelation from an unnamed prophet. That messenger of the Lord predicted that judgment was coming against Eli's household. What the Lord says to Samuel here is a confirmation of that prophecy (1 Samuel 2:27–36).

First Samuel 3:1–14 finds both Samuel and Eli a bit older, though Samuel is still called a boy. Sometime before dawn, Samuel is sleeping in the temple and hears his name called. He runs to Eli, who tells him to go back to bed. When it happens a third time, Eli tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord reveals to Samuel that He is going to bring judgment on Eli and his household for Eli's failure to restrain the blasphemy of his sons against the Lord.

Samuel is just a boy when the Lord calls Him to serve as a prophet in Israel. Sleeping in the temple, Samuel hears his name and thinks Eli the priest is calling him. Eli finally tells Samuel it is the Lord. The Lord tells Samuel that He is going to fulfill His judgment against Eli and his household for the sins of Eli's sons and for Eli's failure to restrain them. Samuel delivers the entire message to Eli and begins his lifelong career as an official prophet of the Lord.

First Samuel 3 follows the prophecy of judgment against Eli and his household at the end of the previous chapter (1 Samuel 2:27–36) with a repeat of the prophecy through the words of young Samuel. Eli helps the boy to understand the Lord is speaking to him, and Samuel delivers the Lord's harsh message. Eli accepts Samuel's word, passively accepting whatever God will do. The next chapters explain Eli's death and Israel's renewed conflict with the Philistines.

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.